Diaz said on Monday's KPBS Midday Edition that volunteers learn more than just statistics when connecting with homeless individuals.

"When you get up close and personal and talk to a homeless person, and you begin to find out information about them, the things they suffer with, you really find out they’re not a whole lot different than we are," Diaz said. "They’re just not housed.”

Anthony Love, director of community engagement at the Veterans Health Administration Homeless Programs, said the census is about more than just a head count.

"Not only are you counting individuals to have a raw number, you’re also getting demographic information,” said Love. That includes how long people have been homeless, their gender and whether or not they have children.

“It really gives you a more crystallized view of who’s on the street and what resources will be needed to help them exit homelessness as quickly as possible.”

Veterans made up 15 percent of the 4,156 homeless San Diegans not in shelters in 2015, an additional 4,586 people were living in shelters.

Diaz said one of the main problems facing San Diego's homeless is the lack of housing options.